Friday, August 17, 2012

"It's Always a Good Time" with the Kesler Family! New Video!



 Where has the summer gone? Too much fun has been had, and too many happy memories made!

 We had the awesome opportunity of joining my sister's family reunion for a few days with her 7 kids, 6 spouses (yes, I have a 25 year old very available nephew if you're in the market!) and 24 grandchildren. It was most definitely the highlight of our summer. Each summer the Kesler family convenes at Island Park, ID for a week long reunion of water skiing, tubing, gaming, hot-tubbing, boating, swimming, kayaking, scavenger hunting, competing, eating, goofing, dancing, videoing,and just loving life. This is one of the most amazing families I've ever known. They are all such great individuals. They are a blast to be around, they are competitive, they are hilarious, and there is never a dull moment!

 As has become tradition, the youngest daughter Kelsi has produced a summer video for your viewing pleasure! One of the fun things about the Kesler videos is the inclusion of inside jokes or back-stories that outsiders might wonder about. Let me fill you in on a few of the insider snippets to watch for in this reel: 

1. The family with bear spray, singing "it's gonna be alright": So, no lie, the Keslers had a full-size grizzly bear ravage their belongings two nights in a row on the porch of their cabin. They actually watched it through the window the second night, which was apparently pretty spine-tingling! Bear spray was purchased STAT.

 2. The creepy doll: This was my sister's doll growing up (who is ML, the mom of this crew), and I actually remember playing with it myself, and loved it: scary eyes, faded dress, balding head, and all. Not sure how it ended up at the cabin or in this video...

 3. The dock dancing: All of us sisters grew up dancing, and my sis ML owned a dance studio for many years. Consequently, each of her children grew up with rhythm in their bones, and fortunately, the in-laws can boogie as well.

 4. The fellas with their skis on the dock: These men all belong to their own established organization, EMSA, the "Early Morning Ski Association". Each morning these guys rise before the sun to ski when the water of the lake is like glass. It's serious business... they own printed sweatshirts and everything.

 5. The wave runner: This portion of the video contains my little fam. You'll see me driving, and my husband flinging off the back. Later on, we all try to pile onto it before our combined weight dumps us into the drink. Lucky for us, none of us suffered any head injuries as we crashed into each other and the dock.

 6. The two boys on the dock: Yes, those happen to be my two oldest kiddos. Not sure how or where they learned to work it quite like that. Should I be worried?

 7. The playing cards and the three guys at the table: This is part of a long standing tradition of the Keslers called, "Crap on Your Neighbor". Lovely name, I know! But not what it first sounds like. It's a card game the adults play when all the little kiddies are in bed. It has ten rounds in which high card trumps all, and takes the pile. Points are kept for each round won or lost, and the risk increases with each round. The kicker is that there is always a penalty for the bottom two or three losers at the end of the ten rounds. In the past, penalties have included jumping into the hot tub fully clothed, jumping into the lake at midnight, walking across sharp rocks bare-foot, and so on. You get the idea. This particular night of filming, the losers had to ingest a packet of hot chocolate powder within a certain time limit. You can see it wasn't going down all that easily!

 8. And lastly, Caleb at the very end of the video: This is Kelsi's husband. Sadly, he was unable to attend this reunion due to work and other obligations, so he was left behind in Washington, D.C. to continue working while the rest of the family partied at the cabin. He danced alone in his kitchen...

 Well, I hope this gives you a little insight to the Kesler family and their fun video for this year. I can vouch truthfully...It's always a good time with them!

 Happy last few weeks of summer!

 

10 comments:

  1. wonder if your card game is like what we played as kids called screw thy neighbor but i could never remember how to play

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  2. loved your family's cameo appearance. my kids watched this again and again. so fun seeing you a couple weeks ago! xoxo

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  3. Shelli,
    It was so much fun having your family up there with us! What a good time huh? Thanks so much for your write-up. You are too nice! We love hanging out with you and your family!

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  4. Jackie, I have to be reminded of how to play every time too. It's super fun when I can remember how to keep score!

    Cath, thanks! So fun to see you as well! We need to do it more often.

    Katie, it was so much fun being there with you! Thanks again for everything!!

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  5. Oh My!!!!! What a wonderful video! Looks like everyone had a lot of fun!

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  6. Shelli - I literally stumbled upon your site and summer video. WOW! And I thought I had a good looking - great dancing, fun-loving and funny family! I loved your video so much that I am sending my older sister a link!

    Elaine Williams
    Baltimore, Maryland

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  7. Thank you Elaine! So nice to hear from you---what a kind comment! Glad you enjoyed it!

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  8. Hi:
    I just found your blog and we want to be ADOPTED! I had my 2 yr old GD cuddled up on my bed and watched the video. Well she stood up and started dancing and trying to sing along. We had so much fun we had to watch it twice. I couldn't help but smile, and then I just had to write you and let you know how much we enjoyed it.
    Hugs,
    Vicki
    Mom to 8 (yes all mine) Gma to almost 12 (she is due today with baby Michael) married 23 years and still going strong.

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  9. Shelli, just showed your video to my daughter and her cousin. If said nephew is still available my 26 year old Juilliard ('08 Alaina Marie Williams)graduate (dance major)- she works on Celebrity Cruise Lines - ship name Reflections. She's also a trapeeze artist - would love to meet him. I'll send a pic! This is way too much fun.

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  10. Vicki, your family sounds much like my sister's! Congrats on such a wonderful posterity! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video...thank you for letting me know. I will pass that along to my sister's family!

    Elaine, how sweet of you! Please send a pic over. I can't make any promises, but it can't hurt to consider options, right? Thanks for your comments!

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